Day 1 ArrivalThis is the arrival day. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Spend the afternoon and evening relaxing in your hotel room or taking in the sights of Sofia. This evening, you will enjoy a full course Bulgarian meal at a popular restaurant for your welcome dinner! / D

Day 2KayakingWe leave Sofia between 7- 7.30 a.m. We will reach the shores of Golyam Beglik dam lake in about 3 hours. It is situated in the Eastern Rodopi mountains over Batak dam lake. After arrival we set up our camp. After that we head for the kayaks. The first day there will be a short introduction and instruction. We will start easy so that everyone feels comfortable and gets a good feeling with the kayak. In about an hour’s rowing among the numerous islands of the dam lake we stop at a nice place for rest, bathing and picnic and after that our kayaking trip continues. We will make a tour of all beautiful bays immersed in pine greenery./B

Day 3BikingAfter breakfast and coffee we will have instructions on mountain bikes by checking and adjusting every wheel according to everybody’s individual characteristics. This day’s route is very picturesque and there are only a few steep slopes passing through pine-tree woods and lawns suitable for rest, picking up mushrooms, raspberries and blueberries. At noon we will stop for rest and lunch in a shady place. After having rest we get on the bikes and set off back the camp. There we will organize shooting with an air-gun, pulling a rope and sacks race. In the evening we will sing again round the fire. /BDay 4 Kayaking on Shiroka Polyana Lake

Get up at about 8 a.m. After coffee and breakfast we pack up the camp and head for Shiroka Polyana dam lake by bus. It is situated about 15 km. away from Golyam Beglik. Following the routine again we unload the kayaks and dip into blissful silence disturbed only by the splashes of the paddles and the songs of the birds. This dam lake is very beautiful, has many branches and is surrounded by pine-tree woods and lawns. At noon we stop at a beautiful place to have rest and lunch. Bathing is a must. A natural lake is situated next to the dam lake connected by a channel which can be passed through in case the water level is appropriate. It winds among shores with overhanging pine-trees and boats twist among fallen trees and shallows. The passing is very amusing. After taking photos we head for our bus. The road to the next Rodopi nook is ahead. In the late afternoon we leave for our next hosts in the small Rodopi village of Smilyan. Overnight in three star eco complex in Smilyan. /BDay 5Water cave, zip-line-trolley, HikingToday is dedicated to a water adventure in a cave this time! We will to descend into the galleries of Golubovitsa cave equipped with life jackets and rubber boats. Today we will also be able to climb Via Ferrata or strapped into a rapeller's harness, attached by carabiner to a tandem zip line, to travel through the air from one bank of the river to the other. We will also try an alpine swing - after securing you with safety equipment, guides will let you fly ahead on a rope hanging from 40 m height: the panoramic view that opens towards Arda river valley while you are in the air makes the experience unforgettable. Overnight in the same hotel./B L

Day 6On the bikes againAfter breakfast we leave for the village of Yagodina. Our bikes will be waiting for us at the hotel. The afternoon is dedicated to explore the region or just relax by the pool. Overnight in 3 * Hotel in Yagodina. / BL

Day 7 Tour through the unlit parts of the Yagodinska caveThis day will be full of adventures again. We will go caving. Yagodina cave is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe with its outstanding stalactites, stalagmites, columns, ponds and cave pearls. It is among the longest caves in Bulgaria (more than 10 000 m mapped so far). The boys from the local speleology club will take care of your safety. Six kilometers of climbing, crawling and passing through narrow clefts. Still if someone decides to give up this doze of adrenalin will have the opportunity to go on a few hours’ guided horseback riding among Trigrad gorge. This is one of the most impressive places in the West Rodopi Mountain. The path is dug out the left bank in the rocks and passes through 80m tunnel. Here you can see the outlines of the 500-meters gorge with high, above 300 m sheer cliffs. Under grown spreading pines rise in the holes and cracks of the rocks.Overnight in the same hotel. /BLDay 8Free dayThis day is entirely up to you. You can either sunbathe by the pool or on the lawn by the river.You can drive buggies or bicycles to the Haramiiska cave or have an off-road jeep safary./BOptional activities :

Jeep safary 10-30 EUR, depending on the chosen route

Horseback riding from 30-50 EUR, depending on the chosen route

Conquer the cave "Haramiiska peshtera" - a route that looks like it was especially created to challenge all space-related phobias: climbing a 30-metre sheer cliff; crawling through tight spaces; hanging on a rope 43 metres above an empty, echoing underground space. 20 EUR

Day 9 Dancing Bears rehabilitation parkToday we visit the dancing bears rehabilitation park. This is a mini-reserve for animals formerly owned by gypsy bear-trainers. The project commenced in May 1999: its concept is that animals that have been traditionally used by gypsy bear-trainers to gather alms (the bear’s guide plays the rebec or other instrument and the bear dances) to be returned to their natural environment. The dancing bears’ park is financed by the Four paws foundation. It is situated in an idyllic site with many lawns and natural water areas where there are wild brown bears as well. There you will learn the story of some of today's 27 inhabitans and their hard life before being rescued to the famous bears paradise. After arriving at the Dancing Bears' Park, you will be able to enter and walk around inside to feel the bears' sorrow and their joy of being in their natural environment again. After the walk we head for the famous Rila monastery where we will stay for the night. /B

Day 10 Time to say goodbyeToday everybody will be transferred to the airport separately depending on the time of the flight. You will have the opportunity to walk round the monastery or visit the the saint’s cave till the departure time comes./B

WHAT'S INCLUDED

local English and German speaking guide

accommodations in hotels and camps

sleeping bags and camping equipment

meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

airport transfers

sightseeing and activities as noted in the itinerary

ground transportation

all activities exept on day 8

WHAT'S NOT

International airfare; meals not noted in itinerary; optional activities on day 8; insurance (we strongly recommend you purchase the World Nomad’s insurance. A link to them you can find on our website ); optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff; airport taxes; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, etc.).

As indicated in the itenerary: 9B /breakfast/, 3 L /lunchpack/, 1D /welcome dinner/Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Allow 5-10 Euro per dinner per day.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Includes moderate hiking, biking, kayaking and other activities that require only an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy. No experience of the activities necessary but you must be happy in moving water and a confident swimmer. Suitable for kids age 10 and older.

TRANSPORT

Private AC Van

WHAT TO BRING

Passport (with photocopies)

Travel insurance (with photocopies)

Airline tickets (with photocopies)

Euros

Credit or debit card

Cobeya Tours vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier

Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required

Camera

Tote bag in which you can put things, like cameras, that shouldn’t get wet

Backpack and small rucksack for carrying personal items during the day

Water shoes you don't mind getting wet and dirty or sport sandals

Comfortable hiking shoes

Light windproof/waterproof jacket

Towel

Swimwear

4 shirts/t-shirts

Sun hat

2 pair of shorts

1 pair hiking pants/track pants

Light sweater/fleece top

Sunblock

Sunglasses with strap

Mosquito repellent

Toiletries (biodegradable)

Flashlight or headlamp

batteries

Water bottle or camelback

Pocketknife

INSURANCE

Travel insurance is mandatory for all clients whilst on a trip organized by Cobeya Adventure Tours. It is mandatory that this travel insurance covers adequate personal accident, medical, evacuation and repatriation expenses, as well as cancellation, curtailment, loss of effects and all other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the client. Clients, together with their personal property including baggage, are at all times solely at their own risk. Clients are wholly responsible for arranging their own insurance. You can use any travel insurance you wish although we recommend you to buy it with World Nomads Travel Insurance. This Travel Insurance Agency is also partnered with Lonely Planet, so it is cheap and reliable! You can very easily purchase it online by just clicking on the folowing link...

FLIGHTS

Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets, so we may verify your arrival and departure schedule.

Cobeya Tours has competitive airfares to get you to the starting point of your chosen adventure. Contact us for a full quotation including airfares, stopovers and any additional travel you wish to organize pre or post tour.

PRE OR POST TOUR ARRANGEMENTS

Because our tours are extremely suitable to be part of your total Bulgarian holiday, we offer you the possibility to extend your holiday by booking your accommodation before or after your tour by us. We suggest several unique accommodations on The Black Sea or in the mountains for very special prices.

PRIVATE DEPARTURES

If you would prefer to travel on one of our Family Adventures with just your own family on different dates to those shown, we can arrange this as self-drive tour with all the activities included.

PASSPORT&VISA

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 monthsbeyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have thecorrect personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one isnecessary.EU nationals may travel to Bulgaria using only an EU identity card. Ifyou think this may apply to you please check with your local authorities.Visa regulations can and do change without notice and if you are not aEU passport holder please check the current regulations in goodtime to obtain a visa if one is required. Additional information...

MONEY MATTERS

As there are no banks or ATMs once you enter the mountains you may wish to exchange approx. 100-150 Euros into local Bulgarian currency to cover entrances and for the purchase of drinks with meals and traditional handicrafts as souvenirs. Please note that the banks located within the arrivals hall at Sofia airport are typically closed at the weekends, so please make sure you obtain Bulgarian currency either in your home country or before passing through customs into the arrivals hall. When ordering your Bulgarian currency it is advisable to request as small denomination notes as possible. Shops and restaurant in remote areas rarely have much in the way of small change and often refuse to accept larger denomination notes. Tipping (leader and local staff) If you receive good service it is customary to tip staff in Bulgaria in appreciation of their help and friendliness, although this is in no way compulsory.